U.S. patent number 11,359,443 [Application Number 16/784,873] was granted by the patent office on 2022-06-14 for ground drilling device for cable-guided drilling, method for cable-guided ground drilling , and use during cable-guided drilling.
This patent grant is currently assigned to TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG. The grantee listed for this patent is TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Volker Boike, Stefan Hermes, Dieter Wurm.
United States Patent |
11,359,443 |
Boike , et al. |
June 14, 2022 |
Ground drilling device for cable-guided drilling, method for
cable-guided ground drilling , and use during cable-guided
drilling
Abstract
A ground drilling device for cable-guided drilling comprising a
drive for connecting and/or moving rod sections of a drill string
along a drill string axis, wherein a cable reserve for receiving a
cable with a length of at least two rod sections is provided and a
contact device for electrical contacting of one end of the cable of
the cable reserve is provided.
Inventors: |
Boike; Volker (Lennestadt,
DE), Hermes; Stefan (Lennestadt, DE), Wurm;
Dieter (Kirchhundem, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG |
Lennestadt |
N/A |
DE |
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Assignee: |
TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co.
KG (Lennestadt, DE)
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Family
ID: |
1000006368616 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/784,873 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200263509 A1 |
Aug 20, 2020 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Feb 15, 2019 [DE] |
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10 2019 001 109.0 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
17/003 (20130101); E21B 7/046 (20130101); E21B
19/084 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
19/084 (20060101); E21B 17/00 (20060101); E21B
7/04 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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202 02 395 |
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Jun 2002 |
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DE |
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0 900 317 |
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Feb 2001 |
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EP |
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3828375 |
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Jun 2021 |
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EP |
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WO-2007121510 |
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Nov 2007 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Gay; Jennifer H
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Howard IP Law Group, PC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A cable feed system for cable-guided drilling with a horizontal
ground drilling device, the cable feed system comprising: a drive
for connecting and/or moving rod sections of a drill string along a
drill string axis, a cable reserve comprising a cable with a length
of at least two rod sections, a rotary feedthrough with a first
longitudinal end configured to receive a first end of the cable
from the cable reserve and to feed the first end of the cable to a
rod section, the rotary feedthrough comprising a jointly rotating
connection at a second longitudinal end configured for connecting
to a rod section of the drilling string; and an electrical contact
for electrically contacting a second end of the cable of the cable
reserve.
2. The cable feed system according to claim 1, wherein the cable
reserve has a spool.
3. The cable feed system according to claim 2, wherein the spool is
arranged about the drill string axis.
4. The cable feed system according to claim 1, further comprising
at least one guide roller for feeding the cable.
5. The cable feed system according to claim 4, wherein the cable
feed is configured for feeding the cable along into the drill
string axis.
6. The cable feed system according to claim 4, further comprising a
seal provided on the cable feed for sealing against flushing liquid
supplied to the drill string.
7. The cable feed system according to claim 1, wherein the cable
reserve is arranged on the first end of the rotary feedthrough such
that the cable reserve is spaced apart from the connection at the
second end of the rotary feed through for connecting the rotary
feed through with a rod section.
8. The cable feed system according to claim 1, further comprising a
motor or cylinder functionally connected to the cable reserve, and
configured to hold the cable under tension.
9. The cable feed system according to claim 8, wherein when the
motor or cylinder comprises the motor, the motor comprises one of
an electromotor or a pneumatic motor, and wherein when the motor or
cylinder comprises a cylinder, the cylinder comprises one of a
hydraulic cylinder, an electro-cylinder, or a pneumatic
cylinder.
10. The cable feed system according to claim 1, wherein the cable
reserve is arranged on the first longitudinal end side of the
rotary feedthrough.
11. The cable feed system according to claim 1, wherein a center
axis of a spool of the cable reserve is aligned concentrically to a
center axis of the connection, which coincides with the drill
string axis.
12. The cable feed system according to claim 1, wherein the cable
reserve is configured to rotate independently from the rotary
feedthrough and the connection.
13. The cable feed system according to claim 1, wherein the rotary
feedthrough comprises an axial opening extending between the first
longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end.
14. A method for feeding a cable for cable-guided ground drilling
with a horizontal ground drilling device, comprising: arranging a
cable reserve comprising a cable with a length of at least two rod
sections on a first end of a rotary feedthrough configured to
receive a first end of the cable from the cable reserve and to feed
the first end of the cable to a rod section to be attached to an
existing rod section of a drill string installed in the ground,
wherein the existing rod section comprises an existing cable,
establishing a constant electrical contact between a second end of
the cable in the cable reserve and an electrical contact connected
to a computing device; connecting the first end of the cable to the
existing cable in the existing rod section, and connecting, by a
drive, the rod section to the existing rod section of the drill
string installed in the ground and in which the existing cable is
present.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cable reserve comprises a
spool arranged about a drill string axis of the drill string.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising feeding the cable
with at least one guide roller.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the cable reserve is configured
for feeding the cable from the cable reserve along a drill string
axis of the drill string.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising arranging a seal on
the cable for sealing against flushing liquid supplied to the drill
string.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising arranging the cable
reserve on the first end of the rotary feedthrough such that the
cable reserve is spaced apart from a connection on the second end
of the rotary feed through for connecting the rotary feed through
with a rod section.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising holding the cable
under tension by a motor or cylinder functionally connected to the
cable reserve.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein when the motor or cylinder
comprises the motor, the motor comprises one of an electromotor or
a pneumatic motor, and wherein when the motor or cylinder comprises
a cylinder, the cylinder comprises one of a hydraulic cylinder, an
electro-cylinder, or a pneumatic cylinder.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a ground drilling device for cable-guided
drilling comprising a drive for connecting and/or moving rod
sections of a drill string along a drill string axis, a method for
cable-guided ground drilling, in which a rod section, which is part
of a drill string drilled into the ground and in which a cable is
present, is connected to another rod section, and also a use during
cable-guided ground drilling, during which rod sections are used,
in which a cable is arranged, wherein cables of adjacent rod
sections are connected to one another.
BACKGROUND
In order to be able to exactly control a borehole, a most precise
position detection of the drilling head in the ground is necessary.
There are essentially two different methods available for this
purpose.
The determination of the position of the drill head may be carried
out by a transmitter in the drill head using an electromagnetic
field through the ground, for which a method known as a walk-over
method is used. The walk-over method enables a fast localization
and an uncomplicated application is possible. The drill head is
localized using a reception strength meter (receiver), located
above the ground, wherein the maximum signal strength of the
transmission signal of the transmitter in the drilling head is
determined depending on the position of the reception strength
meter above ground. The signal strength is thereby dependent on the
transmitter depth in the ground, by which means a depth
determination is possible. However, deviation tolerance increases
at increasing borehole depths.
Cable-guided drilling is used for localizing the drill head for
large depths, for a higher precision in lower depths, and/or under
screening or completely inaccessible obstacles. For this purpose,
each section of the drill string, in particular each rod section,
is provided with a cable lying on the inside, which is connected to
the adjacent sections of the drill string, in particular to
additional rod sections. On the end side, the cable is guided to
the outside after each addition of a rod section and connected to a
slip ring, at which data from a sensor on the drill head or from a
position adjacent to the drill head, may be tapped. The data may be
displayed to an operating person, in particular in an operating
cabin. For changing rods, it is necessary that the cable is
connected on the one hand to the cable of the adjacent, already
drilled rod section or to another section of the drill string,
wherein the connection is manually protected in an electrically
insulating way, and on the other hand, the free end of the cable of
the newly added rod section must be guided through the drill string
to the outside and connected to the slip ring. The previously used
process and the previously used devices are time intensive and
costly.
SUMMARY
It is therefore the object of the present invention to create a
ground drilling device, a method, and a use, with which the expense
with respect to time and/or costs may be reduced.
The core concept of the invention is to provide a cable reserve
with a length of at least the length of two rod sections, in which
one end of the cable reserve is, as far as possible, in permanent
contact with a contact device for electrical contacting of the end
of the cable in order to not have to constantly separate and
reconnect one of the electrical contacts when adding a rod section
or when changing rods. The inventors have broken with the concept,
that one cable section has to be used for a new section of the
drill string to be added, i.e., in particular a rod section, that
the cable for each new rod section to be added has to be connected,
on the one hand, at one end to the end of the cable in the already
drilled drill string, and has to be connected, on the other hand,
at the other end to the slip contact provided on the ground
drilling device for extracting signals from the cable. When adding
a rod section or when changing a rod, the drive is detached from
the already drilled drill string and a rod section is introduced
into the drill string axis and is connected to the drive. The rod
section connected to the drive is then connected to the rod section
drilled into the ground so that, according to the previous
conception, the newly added rod section has to be newly contacted
to both of its respective ends. This concept was previously
transferred to the newly added cable. It is a credit to the
inventors to have recognized this and to have broken with this
idea.
The inventors have thus distanced themselves from the idea that the
cable has to be introduced into the drill string the same way that
the connection is carried out of the newly added rod section into
the drill string.
Although only one connection of the cable of the cable reserve to
the cable of the already drilled drill string is carried out, there
is a continuous possibility--after only carrying out this one
connection--of transmitting signals to the end of the cable reserve
along the drill string axis up to the other end of the cable in the
front side area of the drill string, and receiving them from the
same.
The invention creates a ground drilling device for cable-guided
drilling comprising a drive for connecting and/or moving rod
sections of a drill string along a drill string axis. A cable
reserve for receiving a cable with a length of at least two rod
sections is provided, and a contact device for electrical
contacting of one end of the cable reserve is provided. By this
means, the possibility is created that, when lengthening the drill
string already drilled into the ground by an additional rod
section, in which a cable has to be arranged, only one connection
is provided to the cable located in the already drilled drill
string in order to connect the same to the cable of the cable
reserve and to electrically insulate it.
In the meaning of the description, a "ground drilling device" is
any device which moves, in particular, a drill string having rod
sections, in an existing channel or a channel to be established in
the ground, in order to establish or to expand a borehole, in
particular horizontal drilling (HD), or in order to insert pipes or
other long bodies into the ground. The ground drilling device may
be, in particular, a horizontal drilling device. A ground drilling
device may thus be a device driving a drill string, which functions
in a soil displacing way, and which inserts the drill string into
the ground translationally and/or rotationally in the longitudinal
axial direction of the drill string. A borehole may be introduced
into the ground by the application of tension or pressure on the
drill string. The term "rod section" in the meaning of the
description does not thereby exclusively comprise individual, rigid
force transmission elements, directly or indirectly connectable to
one another, which may be used by a ground drilling device.
The term "horizontal drilling" (HD) comprises, in the meaning of
the present description, in particular an at least partially
horizontally arranged borehole or a horizontally arranged channel
or pipeline.
The drill string may have a drill head and an optionally provided
drill head tip, in particular on the front side end. The drill
string may have a front-side drilling tool.
The term "drive" comprises, in the meaning of the description, a
drive means, which may move back and forth, which may be configured
in particular for a connection to one end of a new rod section to
be drilled. The drive means may be connected to one end of the rod
section, while the other end of the rod section may be connected to
the already drilled drill string. Thus, a lengthening of the drill
string may be carried out by means of adding a rod section or
switching a rod section. The connection between the drive means and
the rod section may be force-fitting and/or form-fitting. The drive
means may be moved back and forth by means of a slide on a drilling
carriage, in order to impart a tensile force or a pressure force on
the drill string connected to the drive means.
The term "drill string axis" comprises in particular the axis,
which may be formed by the longitudinal axes of the individual rod
sections of the drill string, wherein, in the meaning of the
description, the longitudinal axes of the rod sections are
considered which are present in closer proximity to the ground
drilling device in the drill string. In particular, the rod section
may be considered which was drilled last or the rod section, which
is drilled or connected closest to the drill string. The drill
string axis is hereby in particular the axis, with which the drive
receives the new rod section to be drilled and may thus correspond
to the longitudinal axis of the new rod section to be drilled. The
drill string axis may substantially coincide with the longitudinal
axis of the drive means of the ground drilling device.
The term "cable" comprises, in the meaning of the description, a
single core or multicore assembly of conductors, sheathed with an
insulating material, which functions in particular to transmit
energy and/or information. Electric signals may be transmitted via
a cable. If the cable has multiple conductors or cores, then a
parallel or simultaneous transmission of multiple signals is
possible. A connection of cables may be carried out by stripping
one end of a cable with another stripped end of a cable, that the
cables are clamped together or are otherwise mechanically and/or
materially connected to one another. To protect the connection, the
connection point may be insulated, in particular using a shrink
sleeve.
The term "contact device" comprises, in the meaning of the
description, a contact element, with which one end of the cable of
the cable reserve is in electrically-conducting contact. The
contact device accordingly has an electrically-conducting contact
element. The contact element may be in permanent contact with a
display and/or a data processing unit, which may be configured as a
computing unit, and has a controller or the like. The signals may
be displayed on the display, in particular in an operating cabin,
particularly preferably after processing by means of the
controller.
If it is described that the cable reserve has a length of at least
twice the length of one rod section, then this is to be considered
a preferred embodiment, which ensures that initially one additional
rod section may be connected to the already drilled drill string
and a cable may be arranged in the newly added rod section. In one
particularly preferred embodiment, the cable reserve has a cable
with a length which corresponds to at least the length of three,
four, or more rod sections. The cable reserve may have a cable with
a length of at least 50 m, preferably at least 60 m, preferably at
least 70 m, preferably at least 80 m, preferably at least 90 m,
preferably at least 100 m. Depending on the length of the borehole
to be carried out, lengths of a cable of a cable reserve that are
greater than 100 m are possible.
In one preferred embodiment, the cable reserve has a spool, which
is arranged on the ground drilling device. By this means, the cable
reserve is brought in a manageable, compact form and secured
against tangling or knotting of the cable. It is additionally
possible to determine the length during the spooling of the cable
onto the spool and/or to detect the consumed portion of the cable
during unwinding of the cable.
In one preferred embodiment, the spool is arranged about the drill
string axis. by this means, a particularly simple design and a
particularly simple arrangement may be created, in which handling
is easier.
In the meaning of the description, the term "arranged about the
drill string axis" is to be understood in such a way that the
center axis of the spool of the cable reserve is aligned
concentrically to the center axis of the connection, which
coincides with the drill string axis. The axis of rotation of the
spool, i.e., the center axis, coincides with the drill string axis.
A simple configuration is possible for a simple design. In
particular, the cable reserve or the spool may be arranged on the
outside and may surround the drill string axis. This type of
feeding from outside may be preferred and enables a simple design
with low expense when exchanging or refilling the spool with a
cable reserve, as the access from outside facilitates handling. A
space-saving design is thus possible. Few components are required,
which may simplify the design and reduce costs. The mass of the
parts/elements, moved when feeding the cable, may be kept low. An
expensive hydraulic rotary feedthrough is not necessarily
required.
In one preferred embodiment, a cable feeding is present with at
least one guide roller, which may be configured as a deflection
roller, which functions for an orderly feeding of the cable. By
this means, a feeding is enabled, in which the cable reserve may be
arranged independent from the drill string axis and/or in which a
flexible arrangement of the cable reserve is possible.
In one particularly preferred embodiment, the cable feeding, in
particular in the form of a rotary feedthrough, is configured for
an axial feeding into the drill string axis. Multiple guide rollers
may be provided for this purpose, which deflect the cable into the
desired orientation and/or position. While the previous ground
drilling device for cable-guided drilling is provided with a slip
contact directly on the drive and/or the drive means, the cable
reserve and or the cable feeding may also be present outside of an
axial axis, wherein in particular a opening at the drive means for
manual guiding through of a cable may be omitted. Flexibility is
possible in the arrangement of the cable reserve and/or the
position of the contact device.
In one preferred embodiment, a seal is provided on the cable feed
for sealing against a flushing liquid, which is suppliable to the
drill string. A seal may be used, in particular, which
substantially permanently seals a feeding opening for the cable
from the cable reserve. The opening may be, in particular, an
opening arranged in a rotary feedthrough, said opening being
coaxial to the new rod section to be drilled, which is connected to
the drive means. The possibility exists of further simplifying
handling steps, in which the seal does not have to be constantly
manually configured. Flushing liquid, potentially pressurized,
which does not exit from the drive means may be supplied to the
drive means.
A rotary feedthrough may be used which aligns the cable axially
into the drill string axis. In particular, the cable may be guided
substantially centered by the rotary feedthrough, in particular
substantially aligned to the center axis of the drill string. The
rotary feedthrough may have an opening on one end for the cable
coming from the cable reserve. On the other side, the rotary
feedthrough may have a connection, which is to be connected to a
rod section of the drill string or to a new rod section, which is
connected to the already drilled drill string. The connection may,
in particular, jointly rotate with the drill string, if a
rotational movement is exerted on the drill string. The connection
may be connected directly or indirectly to the drill string. For
example, the connection may be connected to a drive means, in
particular in the form of a hollow shaft, which may be rotationally
moved from outside by the drive; and the drive means may be
connected on the other side to the drill string. The drill string
may, in particular, be the inner section of a double drill rod
section. The drill string may be a "simple" string, in which no
inner string is present. The connection at the rotary feedthrough
may be configured, in particular, to form a form-fitting with the
drill string or the drive means or an adapter.
In one preferred embodiment, the cable reserve is arranged on an
end side on a rotary feedthrough, spaced apart to the connection,
which is connected directly or indirectly to a rod section. By this
means, the cable of the cable reserve may pass through the rotary
feedthrough or the connection from behind, or may extend at least
partially or completely through the rotary feedthrough. The
inventors are also pursuing a previously irrational approach with
the previously listed preferred embodiment, that the cable may
extend completely through a rotary feedthrough, even though the
cable may be constantly accessed. The access may thereby be reduced
in particular to an access solely in the area of the newly added or
to be added rod section at the end spaced apart from the drill
head. For example, the cable may extend, beginning from the supply,
through the rotary feedthrough and a drive means in the form of a
hollow shaft, which is rotationally driven by a drive, without
necessitating a separation or detaching of the connection in and
through the listed areas.
In one preferred embodiment, a traction means is present, which may
be configured, in particular, in the form of a hydraulic motor. The
traction means may be configured as a hydraulic cylinder,
electromotor, electro-cylinder, pneumatic motor or cylinder in an
alternative or in an additional embodiment. In one alternative or
additional embodiment, the traction means may be configured as a
spring or spring means or may have a spring or a spring means, with
the aid of which a spring bias is exerted on the cable in order to
maintain the cable under tension. The traction means is
functionally connected to the cable reserve and configured to
maintain the cable under tension. By this means, it may be avoided
to the greatest extent that the cable is crimped during the
connection to the rod section. Due to a possible substantially
concentric feeding of the cable, the cable may be held outside of
the area that is relevant for the mechanical connection of the rod
sections or the sections of the drill string. A concentric feeding
of the cable through the drive means with a tensile load of the
cable of the cable reserve, in particular in connection with a
substantially concentric arrangement of the cable in the already
drilled drill string, may be used advantageously in order to hold
the cable outside of the elements provided for the connection of
the rod sections; cable breakage and/or cable damage may be
prevented.
The invention also creates a method for cable-guided ground
drilling, wherein the method has the step that a rod section, which
is part of a drill string drilled into the ground and in which a
cable is present, is connected to another rod section. A cable is
provided with a length of at least two rod sections. Furthermore, a
constant electrical contact of one end of the cable, having a
length of at least twice the length of a rod section, is
established during the connection of the rod sections. During the
connection of a new cable for a rod section to be added, or during
a rod change switch, the previous cable is thus separated and only
one connection of the cable of the cable reserve is required in
order to drive the drill string farther.
The invention also creates a use during cable-guided ground
drilling, in which rod sections are used, in which a cable is
arranged, wherein cables of adjacent rod sections are connected to
one another. A cable reserve for receiving a cable with a length of
at least twice the length of a rod section and a contact device for
constant electrical contacting of one end of the cable of the cable
reserve are used.
The invention was described based on the three aspects relating to
the ground drilling device, a method, and a use. The comments
regarding the individual aspects of the invention complement one
another in this regard. Comments for one of the aspects apply
equally for the other two aspects.
The preceding comments and likewise the subsequent description of
an exemplary embodiment do not present waiver of certain
embodiments or features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention is subsequently described in greater detail with
reference to an exemplary embodiment depicted in the figures.
FIG. 1 shows a section in the area of a drive of a ground drilling
device with a spool and a cable reserve from one side in an
isometric depiction, and
FIG. 2 shows the depiction from FIG. 1 from another side.
FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of a ground drilling device from
the side with a drill string, rod section, drive, rotary
feedthrough, and cable reserve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a section in the area of a rotary feedthrough 1
for drilling fluid of a ground drilling device in an isometric
depiction from two sides. Rotary feedthrough 1 has a jointly
rotating connection 2, which may be brought into connection with a
new rod section to be drilled. Connection 2 may be connected to a
rear end of a new rod section to be drilled, and the rod section
may be connected to the already drilled drill string. Connection 2
defines a drill string axis L, which is depicted by means of a
dashed line in FIG. 1.
A cable 3 used for cable-guided drilling is present as cable
reserve 4. A contact device 5, which has an electrical contact
which is electrically connected to one end of cable 3 of cable
reserve 4, is provided on cable reserve 4. Contact device 5 is
additionally connected to an electrical connection, which
establishes a connection to a display or to a unit processing a
signal applied to cable 3. Cable reserve 4 is configured as a spool
6, which may receive a cable 3 with a length of at least two rod
sections. One end of cable 3 of cable reserve 4 is guided via a
cable feed 7 into axis L of connection 2.
Cable feed 7 has guide rollers 8, configured as deflection rollers,
by means of which cable 3 may be guided to connection 2 from
behind. Spool 6 is arranged for this purpose on an end side on
rotary feedthrough 1 or connection 2. The center axis of spool 6 is
aligned concentrically to the center axis of connection 2, which
coincides with drill string axis L. Cable 3 is thus guided through
connection 2 and may project out of connection 2 at the other end
of the same, in order to be connected to a cable of an already
drilled drill string.
A seal 9 is present in the area of guide roller 8, which aligns the
cable substantially in the longitudinal axial direction of
connection 2, said seal being able to seal an opening 10. Pressure
may be applied to a cylinder 15 connected to seal 9.
Traction means 11 is provided, with which cable reserve 4 is
functionally connected by means of two meshing gears 12, 13.
Traction means 11 is functionally connected to the cable reserve in
such a way that it may maintain cable 3 of cable reserve 4 under
tension. Traction means 11 is configured as a hydraulic motor.
A flushing liquid supply 14 for supplying flushing liquid, in
particular bentonite, is provided on rotary feedthrough 1.
FIG. 3 schematically shows a ground drilling device 20. Ground
drilling device 20 has a drilling carriage 24 on which drive 22 may
be moved back and forth. One end of rotary feedthrough 1 is
arranged next to drive 22, and a second end of rotary feedthrough 1
is arranged next to cable reserve 4. Using drive 22, a drill string
28, which has rod sections such as rod section 26, may be moved
through the ground translationally and/or rotationally in the
longitudinal axial direction of the drill string.
* * * * *